Feminist Critics

After reading all of the texts, the details that I believe feminist critics are drawn to/interested in are what role a female plays, how they are referred to, and how they compare to men. In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart And Feminist Criticism Linda Strong-Leek said “Instead of focusing on Okonkwo, as most critics have, this reading is focused on two major female characters, Ekwefi and Ezinma, and one minor figure, Ojiugo. They are mentioned only briefly, if at all, by other critics of the text, and when referred to, are examined only in relation to Okonkwo's actions or motivations.” So even if the female isn’t really the main character feminists are more focused on them. They look for positive qualities about women like “Ekwefi, Okonkwo's second wife being well of knowledge, love, and fierce independence.” As for Ezinma, “Ezinma is the embodiment of all the women in this novel represent: intelligence, vitality, and fortitude.” Ezinma stands out in Achebe’s novel she is a strong character and has a special effect on people such as she calls her mother by her name. It was also stated that if Ezinma was a male she would be king. Feminist like to read about these kinds of things.

In Andrew Marvell’s “To His Coy Mistress”: A Feminist Reading feminists are looking to see what women are regarded as. They want to know why Marvell “identifies the female body itself as a loathsome symbol of human decay”. In the beginning of the poem it’s all about love and romance. There is even a blazon where the female is being praised. As we get to the end of the poem the women are no longer being praised and glorified. “With witty, erotic conceits, the speaker mocks contemporary notions of virginity and expresses disgust at the female body as a symbolic place of death.” Feminist critics are drawn to texts and details that either display women as strong figures or put women down. At least that is what I believe Feminist critics are most interested in.